We've Been in Your Shoes - Employee Spotlight Bernie Dancel

You may know him from our new commercials, his video on our home page, walking through the halls or grabbing lunch in the cafeteria, but today we get to know Bernie Dancel, founder of CareOne Debt Relief Services, a little better.

I thought it would be fun to get inside of Bernie's head and learn more about his hopes and dreams along with his passion to help people in debt. When I mentioned the idea of doing this interview, he said that there was only one rule, that there are no rules. I was cool with that rule and he was nice enough to sit down with me to answer my probing questions.

You channeled your debt experience into a professional mission to both innovate and improve the debt relief industry, how did you get started?

Many people don't realize that I actually started helping people first, the company and all that we do here came second. I just knew that there had to be a better way, better options. I did a lot of research after my own bankruptcy and learned about the debt relief options available at the time.

I realized that I could do better, that I could improve on the process and the services themselves. I literally started at my kitchen table in our townhome, making calls to creditors and negotiating better terms and interest rates for friends and acquaintances that I knew needed a hand.  

You walked away from a financial services career to start the actual business, was that hard? 

It was hard. I had a growing family to support, but I am lucky to have a very supportive wife. She believed with me, that bad financial things can happen to good people. What I went through, having to declare bankruptcy changed my life forever at a very young age.  I did not feel that a single negative event should define me for the rest of my life; everyone deserves a second chance. With my wife's support and belief in my mission to change this industry, we made it happen.

Did you ever imagine that you would found a company that helped over 5 million people?

I never put any limitations on what we can achieve as an organization. I want to help as many people as we can and we will continue to innovate and change this industry to do so. 

I will say that looking back and then looking forward, I am immensely proud of how we have grown as an organization.  I can and do boast about the caliber of our employees. We have some of the most passionate and committed employees working here, bringing their best to their jobs every day.  The passion I see from all of you fuels my own passion; to make what we do the standard for the industry, and to keep on raising that bar.

Well it is clear that you are passionate about your company and your employees, but what else are you passionate about?

My family...football.....

Wait, football...we all know that you are a die-hard Ravens fan, is there more?

Yes, I am a die-hard Ravens fan, but I have been coaching high school football for years. I love working with the kids. The discipline and solid life skills that kids learn by playing this game are invaluable. Watching these kids mature, improve as young adults, it's really inspiring to me.

It's clear you are passionate about the game, is there a career change in your future?

I could coach at the college level, but that is a full time job and I already have one of those (smiles).

I heard that you are Hawaiian, true?

Yes, absolutely true. I am part Hawaiian, Chinese and Italian.  My Hawaiian family is Hawaiian and Chinese. I speak with my Hawaiian family members quite often and it's not a bad place to have relatives to visit.

That is a pretty cool background to have, any royalty?

Not royalty, but I was told by my Hawaiian family that we actually descended from a long line of "Kahuna's," which are the spiritual leaders or experts in Hawaiian culture.

I found that to be pretty cool given we work each day to change people's lives for the better. In fact, most of my Hawaiian family continues to serve as Kahuna's, dedicating their lives as spiritual leaders and helping others as we do here at CareOne.

What kind of music and T.V. shows are you into?

Well, I am a huge music fan and I like pretty much all genres of music. I have been on a Country music kick lately; I'm really into Rascal Flatts right now. 

We watch a lot of T.V. My favorite shows right now are Modern Family and Parenthood. 

You have five kids, what is life like around the Dancel home, what is new with all of you?

(Laughs) Crazy... I have one 17 year old left.  My other 4 are in their twenties.  There is a constant stream of kids in and out of our house.  It's actually pretty fun, there is always something going on. 

My wife recently discovered that she has gluten intolerance, so now we are are trying to find places to eat around town that can accommodate her dietary restrictions. If anyone knows of any places, around Baltimore let me know in the comments. It's become our new hobby, finding and trying these gluten free menu options.  

I have some pretty cool news; we recently found out that my eldest daughter is pregnant with our first grandchild. (Grins) The Hawaiian name for grandfather is "Tutu Kahne."

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